chromebook What’s all the fuss about? chromebook’s purpose To provide a rugged, reasonably price alternative to Windows / Mac machines, based on Google's infrastructure, while being easy to use, secure and quick to boot up and able to handle any Web / Android / Linux type experience. Media’s reaction to chromebook Five months with the Google Pixelbook Go: Work remotely with speed, style, and the best keyboard While the Pixelbook Go is not the cheapest Chromebook available and rivals Windows computer prices, it has been my daily driver for five months and is now helping me work remotely while we deal with a troubling virus. There is a lot to like in this Chromebook and using it is rather joyful in a time of fear and uncertainty. By Matthew Miller for The Mobile Gadgeteer | March 9, 2020 -- 13:21 GMT (06:21 PDT) | There is a lot to like in this Chromebook and using it is rather joyful in a time of fear and uncertainty. Media’s reaction to chromebook Is the Chromebook right for you? by JR Raphael Published: February 29, 2020 | Rev. 1.0 Part I: Is the Chromebook right for you? Part II: Which Chromebook should you buy? Part III: You’ve got a Chromebook. Now what? To crib a phrase, everything on a Chromebook “just works.” Media’s reaction to chromebook Best Chromebook laptops in 2020: Google, Dell, Asus, Lenovo, and more Our pick of the best Chromebooks for work, school, and home. By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes for Hardware 2.0 | March 12, 2020 -- 18:30 GMT (11:30 PDT) | Not everyone needs a MacBook or a Windows 10 laptop. In fact, most people can be perfectly happy with a Chromebook. Media’s reaction to chromebook Traveling? Bring a Chromebook; They’re Encrypted CHRIS HOFFMAN @chrisbhoffman MARCH 3, 2020, 8:00AM EDT Chromebooks are great travel companions. They have a lot of advantages over Windows laptops: Their storage is always encrypted by default, they’re inexpensive, and they aren’t vulnerable to many of the problems that affect Windows PCs. Media’s reaction to chromebook How Chromebooks became the go-to laptops for security experts Alfred Ng March 28, 2018 5:00 a.m. PT Chrome OS has provided one of the most robust cases of “usable security” available. Why was chromebook created? How Chromebooks became the go-to laptops for security experts Alfred Ng March 28, 2018 5:00 a.m. PT Drewry and Liu focused on four key features for the Chromebook that have been available ever since the first iteration in 2010: sandboxing, verified boots, power washing and quick updates. Why was chromebook created? Why Google’s Chromebooks are born to lose By Rob Enderle May 12, 2011 When Mr. Enderle wrote this article his basic premise was that the Chromebook was trying to be 2000's answer to the Netbook / "Thin Client" vision; He stated (chromebook) “Wanted to be an inexpensive laptop”; “And to be an competitor to the recently introduced iPad.” Mr. Enderle also wrote "Ironically, Google’s execution makes it likely that this future product will be Windows 8.“ (i.e. put another way, Windows 8 will be chromebook’s replacement). Why was chromebook created? Google: More Than 500 School Districts In The U.S. And Europe Now Use Chromebooks Tech Crunch Frederic Lardinois@fredericl / 1:07 pm EDT • June 25, 2012 For schools, however, Chromebooks are attractive alternatives to traditional laptops. The total cost of ownership for these laptops, after all, is relatively low because they are so easy to manage, virtually immune to viruses and update themselves. chromebook, a brief history • Developed in 2010 • Commercially available by Samsung / Acer May 2011 • Nov. 2011, Google applied price decreases; Samsung Series 5 - $349, Acer AC700 - $299 (US$) • 2013 sales driven by "heavy Internet users with educational institutions" • 2014 had Google come out Chromebook Pixel with touch screen capabilities; • 2016 gave way to touchscreens and 2-in-1 with Google, HP, Samsung and Acer providing different models / features chromebook, a brief history • As of 2016, Chromebooks accounted for more than half of the 12.6-million "mobile" devices shipped to US schools • 2017 Samsung's Chromebook plus for $449 (US$) 2-in-1 package with a multi-touch 2400 x 1600 screen and a garaged S-Pen stylus • Later on in 2017 Google Pixelbook was unveiled (a powerful contender, i5 / i7, 8 or 16 GB RAM, 128 – 512 GB encrypted Storage, 2.4k X 1.6k Display, 2 USB-C ports, 4 mics, 720p 60fps camera and 10 hour battery life) • March 2018 brought out the Chrome OS tablet by Acer and Dell coming out with its own branded Chromebooks What did I hope for? • Relatively inexpensive; • Simplicity to use (similar to an Android or iPad tablet • Solid keyboard experience (I've not heard anyone stated they didn't like the feel of a chromebook keyboard); • Feel that Chromebooks (without any covers) could survive falls / drops that Windows, Macs or tablets couldn't; • Fast startup; What did I hope for? • Safe to use (there's attachments I would not risk on a Windows machine, but can safely review on a Chromebook); • Windows like functions (including the ability to hover over a link to discover its origins, which is difficult to do with a tablet / mobile device) • Most Internet based functions (MS Office, Video Conferencing, browsing, streaming) are available; • Updates are quicker / more seamless (it appears Google has a better testing regiment for its updates than Microsoft or Apple, though it's not perfect) Why buy a Windows vs chromebook? • You require / want the flexibility to run any app (partially due to Windows popularity / 89.2% of personal computers worldwide); • Ability to tweak your system to anyway you want it; • Built to take advantage of powerful processors, large amount of ram for the serious gamer / video & photo editing / graphic & cad design; • As I recently discovered with the Canadian Tire site, some sites work better on Windows. Why buy a MAC vs chromebook? • Built to take advantage of powerful processors, large amount of ram for the serious gamer / video & photo editing / graphic & cad design; • Apple has developed a dedicated following where its users are empowered by the intuitive of its overall software / hardware offerings; • Mac OS is responsible for 8.9% of personal computers worldwide. chromebook compare to Android? • Keyboard, Bluetooth keyboards are sluggish when used with a Tablet • Chromebook flip products are not as slim as a tablet • Android apps work better on a tablet • Chromebook browser is more efficient and compatible than on a tablet • Though the experience may not be substantially better if the site is based on using Windows, i.e. Canadian Tire What chromebook did I buy? Acer Chromebook Spin 11 (R751T / CP511) • $300 taxes in / on special in July 2019 BENEFITS • Startup; 60 seconds from Off Instantaneously if in suspend / sleep mode • My relaxing system, though it allows me to be productive when required • Google News works well, allowing me access to news sites that normally wouldn’t work on Windows due to paywall • Allows me to review suspicious documents that I wouldn’t dare open on a Windows machine NEGATIVES • Basic graphic / video editing is still difficult (but getting better) • Android apps (Zoom Chat, Outlook) that have are not as battery efficient, don’t always display properly and my personal pet peeve, the reminders are queued to all appear on power up (considerably slows down the initial startup) chromebook selection (BestBuy April 25th) AUP (Auto Update Policy) Google Chrome Auto Update policy Overview Chrome devices (e.g. Chromebook, Chromebox, Chromebase, Chromebit) receive automatic updates that enhance both the device and its software. Device updates provide the latest features and keep the device secure, and are applied across the operating system, browser and hardware. These updates depend on many device specific non-Google hardware and software providers that work with Google to provide the highest level of security and stability support. For this reason, older Chrome devices cannot receive updates indefinitely to enable new OS and browser features. https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en> NOTE: there appears to be an upcoming change were the browser will be updated separately from the overall chromebook, no details as to what units will be covered. AUP (Auto Update Policy) What’s the AUP for the devices we discussed: • Acer Chromebook Spin 11 (R751T / CP511) - purchased July 2019; Jun 2024 • Lenovo IOOe 11.6" Chromebook Black 2nd Gen Jun 2026 • Acer 11.6" Chromebook White CB3-132-C38T; ???? • HP 14" Chromebook 6SH70UA#ABL; Chromebook 14-db0xxx Jun 2026 • Lenovo S345 14" Touchscreen Chromebook; S345-14 Jun 2026 • Acer Spin 15 15.6" Touchscreen 2-in- 1 Chromebook; (CP315) Jun 2024 • Google Pixelbook Go 13.3" Jun 2026 Final words If you're interested in completing whatever using a tablet (i.e. not depended on windows only software) , yet would like a standard keyboard, a device that is robust (i.e. can survive the occasional oopsie that would crack most screens) and you're not a MAC enthusiast, then a Chromebook can be an affordable and fun machine. Other considerations, is a Chromebook's simplicity and secure foundation. Acknowledgements https://www.zdnet.com/article/five-months-with-the-google-pixelbook-go-work-remotely-with-speed-style-and-the-best-keyboard/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-chromebook-laptops/ https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/5000001-is-the-chromebook-right-for-you/#post-2173114 https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/5000001-is-the-chromebook-right-for-you/#post-2173137 https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/5000001-is-the-chromebook-right-for-you/#post-2173136